Nested rockets



Aug. 30, 1966 B. B. GOULD 3,269,268

NESTED ROCKETS Filed May 14, 1964 3,269,268 NESTED ROCKETS Bert B. Gould, San Ramon, Califl, assignor to MB Associates, a corporation of California Filed May 14, 1964, Ser. No. 367,593 8 Claims. (Cl. 89-1313) This invention relates to a means and manner of stacking miniature rockets in an alternated columnar nested relation with the fin portions of the several rockets being adapted to provide support [for the bodies of rockets which are extending in an opposite direction in an adjacent column, and is a continwation-in-part of application Serial No. 118,683, filed June 21, 1961, now abandoned, of the same inventor.

Heretofore, the prior art, both in printed patents and other publications, has disclosed various means for storing bombs and in one instance such a means comprises a frame in which there are one or more articulated spacers composed of a number of blocks shaped and arranged to form bomb pockets, the blocks being connected together by metal bands provided with hinges located between adjacent pairs of blocks. As contrasted with this arrangement, there are other teachings in rocket-holding devices, and in which the rocket is provided with fins at its fore and aft sections. Usually such an arrangement includes a front plate which is adapted to support the foremost end of the rocket and the aft end of the body of the rocket is positioned in a tubular means out of which it is projected when fired. It is also known in the art to alternate opposite ends of ammunition and flexibly secure the opposed ends of each cartridge so that they form a continuous string-like arrangement for rocket feeding to machine guns.

Furthermore, large rockets are fired singly from individual launching devices and their size and cost make it unlikely that large numbers would be transported together or launched from one place. Also, large rockets may carry guidance controls that eliminate any need for fins. The miniature rockets to which this invention relates, on the other hand, are extremely small, about 1.5 to 3 millimeters in diameter and 8 to 35 millimeters long and are stabilized by radially extending fins. Since it is not inconceivable that thousands of such miniature rockets may be launched at a single firing, the method of packing taught herein, as well as the utility arising therefrom are of great importance to the transportability and the efficiency of such multiple-launching systems.

The primary object of this invention is the stacking of miniature rockets in an alternated columnar nested relation with the fin portions of the several rockets being adapted to provide support for the bodies of adjcaent rockets.

Still another object of the invention is to provide miniature rockets in which the width of the fins is not greater than 65% of the rocket diameter.

Still another object of the invention is to rotate the columns of rockets relative to rockets in an adjacent column so that their fins are positioned at an angle of 60 to the fins of the adjacent column, thereby providing support for the body portions of each other.

The details of the invention, as Well as additional ob jects and advantages, will be clearly understood with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings employing similar reference numerals to identify the same elements in each of the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a small group of rockets disposed in columns and extending in opposite directions to each other and which have been rotated relative to one another so that their fin portions rest against the body portions of the adjacent rocket;

' United States Patent "ice FIG. 2 illustrates an end elevational view looking into a receptacle and wherein a plurality of alternated rows or columns of miniature rockets are shown in nested re-' lation;

FIG.- 3 is a top plan view generally on line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the opposed array of rockets with partitions adjacent to their opposite end portions; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a tubular contain er partially shown in section, also revealing the stacked,-

alternately nested rockets.

Turning now to the drawing, and more particularly FIG. 1, there is shown by means of a perspective view a group of rockets generally indicated as 12 with their body portions extending in opposed directions so that the rearwardly projecting fins 10 of rocket 11 are arranged to overlie the body portion 13 of the companion columnarly-arranged rocket provided with a body portion 14 which extends in the opposite direction and includes fins 15 adapted to support body portion 11 of the adjacent rocket.

From an examination of FIG. 2, which is an end elevational view looking into the interior of a typical reoeptacle R having top, bottom and side walls, it will be noted that there are plural rows of stacked alternatelyarranged, nested rockets which, in the assembly shown, provides a nested array of rockets having their nose portions projecting toward the viewer and designated A, and those rockets which are nested therewith, and in which the viewer is looking into the nozzles, bear the identification B. As already discussed herein the fins 10 of alternate rockets rest against and support the body13 of an adjacent rocket. Also, in this view there is clearly shown the forward or nose portions A of the several columns of rockets positioned in the receptacle and in the column next adjacent the nozzles B are illustrated. Thus, in this manner a receptacle R is simply filled with nested rockets. Thereafter, the entire remaining spaces provided between the top, bottom and side walls of the receptacle, and the area surrounding'the rockets and their fins, are covered or enveloped in foam plastic. It will be apparent that such an arrangement will permit ready dispersal of the encapsulated rockets in their grouped relation from their containers, which may have any desired configuration with but two types being shown in the drawings, these to be construed as examples only and not as limitations of types or sizes.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a view looking down into the receptacle R illustrated in FIG. 2, and in which the rockets are clearly shown in abutted relation between spaced, laterally-extending, end partitions of pyrotechnic sheet igniter material 20 and 21, so that upon appropriate ignition of said pyrotechnic sheet igniter means the rockets will be dispersed from their confining means. These partition many be constructed in various manners and of difterent materials depending upon the end result desired. Further, in connection with the view of FIG. 3 it is to be noted that the receptacle R is elongated to provide for longitudinally positioning other spaced groups of rockets between the abutting partitions. It will be apparent that the receptacle may be constructed of rigidified sheet plastic or any suitable metallic material. The pyrotechnic material of the partitions 20 and 21 may be constructed as disclosed in application Ser. No. 103,289 of Charles T. Hoard, filed April 17, 1961, now abandoned, which is also assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Relative to the manner in which the partitions may be constructed of pyrotechnic material, this may be accomplished once the foam plastic has been introduced into the container to encapsulate the rockets and has been substantially solidified. The partitions may be removed thus leaving the nozzle portions and their fuses free from contamination by any of the plastic material and readily Patented August 30, 1966 accessible from opposite ends of the encapsulation material. Thus, at this time the exposed rockets are in condition for assembly thereto of a preformed, sheet-like, pyrotechnic means of the type referred to hereinbefore, which has been previously coated with a suitable adhesive or cement.

A thin cover sheet of any suitable plastic material may be applied over the pyrotechnic sheet means and thereby afford a protective medium for the assembly. Of course, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that it is likewise conceivable within the scope of this invention to remove the separating partitions and then the groups of encapsulated rockets from the container, should they be shipped to another location for use or storage, to thereafter assemble the pyrotechnic sheet means to the opposite ends of the encapsulating material.

FIG. 4 is representative of a tubular container T and in which the nested rockets are positioned for shipping. It is to be understood that the forming means referred to above will assume the configuration of the container shown in this view and in which the end product will be positioned either for storage or shipping purposes.

Although reference is made herein to the use of a foamed plastic for the purpose of encapsulating the groups of rockets, it is contemplated that solidified beads of plastic may also be utilized for enveloping the rockets to insure their being shipped without damage thereto.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been depicted and described, it will be apparent that these embodiments are illustrative in nature and that a number of modifications in the apparatus and variations in its end use may be effected Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved method of preparing rocket means for subsequent ignition and firing, the steps including: stacking miniature rockets in an alternated columnar nested relation in an explodable compartmentalized confining means; introducing foam plastic into the confining means to surround the nested miniature rockets; removing portions of the confining means to expose predetermined, oppositely extending areas of said rockets defined by openings in the solidified plastic, and securing a pyrotechnic sheet igniter means to the exposed areas of said rockets, whereby upon appropriate ignition of said pyrotechnic sheet igniter means the rockets will be dispersed from their confining means.

2. An improved method of preparing rocket means for subsequent ignition and firing, the steps including: stacking miniature rockets in an alternated columnar nested relation in an explodable compartmentalized confining means; introducing beads of plastic into the confining means to surround the nested miniature rockets; removing portions of the confining means to expose predetermined, oppositely extending areas of said rockets defined by openings in the solidified plastic, and securing a pyrotechnic sheet igniter means to the exposed areas of said rockets, whereby upon appropriate ignition of said pyrotechnic sheet igniter means the rockets will be dispersed from their confining means.

3. An article of manufacture comprising an assembly of alternately banked and nested rocket means confined in a receptacle means filled with solidified foam plastic material in which each blank of the alternately disposed rocket nozzles are positioned in parallel planes, and pyrotechnic sheet igniter means secured to said exposed nozzle portions, whereby said rockets can be dispersed from said solidified foam material and the receptacle upon ignition of the igniter means.

4. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rocket means in each of said columns is rotated relative to an adjacent rocket so that its fins are positioned at an angle of to the fins of the next adjacent rocket, thereby providing support for the body of the next adjacent rocket.

5. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 4, wherein the receptacle means in which the miniature rocket means are stacked comprises top, bottom and side wall means and interior partition members adapted to compartmentalize the columnar array of rocket means therewithin.

6. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receptacle means is constructed of metallic material.

7. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receptacle means is constructed of rigidified sheet plastic material.

8. An article of manufacture comprising an assembly of alternately banked and nested rocket means confined in a receptacle means filled with beads of plastic material in which each bank of the alternately disposed rocket nozzles are positioned in parallel planes, and pyrotechnic sheet igniter means secured to said exposed nozzle portions, whereby said rockets can be dispersed from said solidified plastic material and the receptacle upon ignition of the ignition means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,646 10/ 18661 Hunt 102/49 762,084 6/1904 Petersen 206/ 3 X 956,546 5/ 1910 Schulman 102/33 1,858,856 5/1932 Hadley 206/3 2,590,358 3/1952 Williams 206/66 3,066,382 12/1962 Sweigle et al 206/46 3,088,373 5/1963 Robert et a1 89/1.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 566,333 11/1958 Canada.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PREPARING ROCKET MEANS FOR SUBSEQUNT IGNITION AND FIRING, THE STEPS INCLUDING: STACKING MINIATURE ROCKETS IN AN ALTERNATED COLUMNAR NESTED RELATION IN AN EXPLODABLE COMPARTMENTALIZED CONFINING MEANS; INTRODUCING FOAM PLASTIC INTO THE CONFINING MEANS TO SURROUND THE NESTED MINIATURE ROCKETS; REMOVING PORTIONS OF THE CONFINING MEANS TO EXPOSE PREDETERMINED, OPPOSITELY EXTENDING AREAS OF SAID ROCKETS DEFINED BY OPENINGS IN THE SOLIDIFIED PLASTIC, AND SECURING A PYROTECHNIC SHEET IGNITER MEANS TO THE EXPOSED AREAS OF SAID ROCKETS, WHEREBY UPON APPROPRIATE IGNITION OF SAID PYROTECHNIC SHEET IGNITER MEANS THE ROCKETS WILL BE DISPERSED FROM THEIR CONFINING MEANS. 